Saint Kitts and Nevis

Carib Indians occupied the islands of the West Indies for hundreds of years before the British and French began settlement in 1623. During the 17th century, Saint Kitts became the premier base for British and French expansion into the Caribbean. The French ceded the territory to the UK in 1713. At the turn of the 18th century, Saint Kitts was the richest British Crown Colony per capita in the Caribbean, a result of the sugar trade. Although small in size and separated by only 3 km (2 mi) of water, Saint Kitts and Nevis were viewed and governed as different states until the late-19th century, when the British forcibly unified them along with the island of Anguilla. In 1967, the island territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla became an associated state of the UK with full internal autonomy. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. The remaining islands achieved independence in 1983 as Saint Kitts and Nevis. In 1998, a referendum on Nevis to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the necessary two-thirds majority.

17 20 N, 62 45 W

hurricanes (July to October)

Volcanism: Mount Liamuiga (1,156 m) on Saint Kitts and Nevis Peak (985 m) on Nevis are part of the volcanic-island arc of the Lesser Antilles, which extends from Saba in the north to Grenada in the south

1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

deforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

135 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 19.2% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 3.5% (2023 est.)

Forest: 42.3% (2023 est.)

Other: 34.6% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

arable land

smallest country in the Western Hemisphere in terms of both area and population; the two volcanic islands are separated by a 3-km-wide (9-mi-wide) channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of baseball-bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its ball-shaped namesake island

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Central America and the Caribbean

8 sq km (2012)

24 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

population clusters are found in the small towns located on the periphery of both islands

Highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Total : 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)

Land: 261 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

0-14 years: 19.2% (male 5,314/female 5,277)

15-64 years: 68.1% (male 18,944/female 18,575)

65 years and over: 12.7% (2024 est.) (male 3,341/female 3,682)

At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female

Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)

Adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian

Total: 19 years (2015 est.)

Male: 18 years (2015 est.)

Female: 20 years (2015 est.)

Urban population: 31.1% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 1.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

14,000 BASSETERRE (capital) (2018)

4.3 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

African descent 92.5%, mixed 3%, White 2.1%, East Indian 1.5%, other 0.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2001 est.)

English (official)

3.09 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

6.2% of GDP (2021)

5.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 46.9 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 28.2 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 18.7 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 5.3 (2024 est.)

74 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Total: 55,133 (2024 est.)

Male: 27,599

Female: 27,534

22.9% (2016)

Total: 8.84 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 3.73 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 1.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 3.89 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 77.6 years (2024 est.)

Male: 75.2 years

Female: 80.1 years

3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

11% national budget (2025 est.)

0.87 (2025 est.)

1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Total: 39.1 years (2025 est.)

Male: 38.8 years

Female: 38.3 years

1.76 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Total: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Male: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births

7.43 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

11.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0.53% (2025 est.)

Municipal: 15.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 0 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 200,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,900 tons (2024 est.)

8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 269,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

81.454 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Embassy: The US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis

14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Name: Basseterre

Geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W

Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: The French name translates as "low land" in English; the reference is probably to the city's location in a valley

History: Several previous (pre-independence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983

Amendment process: Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis

Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023)

Head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister

Election/appointment process: The monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor general usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister; deputy prime minister also appointed by governor general

Description: Divided diagonally from the lower left side by a broad black band with two five-pointed white stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, and the lower is red

Meaning: Green stands for the island's fertility, red for the struggles of the people from slavery, yellow for year-round sunshine, and black for the people's African heritage; the white stars stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis but can also express hope and liberty, or independence and optimism

19 September 1983 (from the UK)

Highest court(s): The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC is headquartered on St. Lucia and consists of the Court of Appeal -- headed by the chief justice and 4 judges -- and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal travels to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; member of the Caribbean Court of Justice

Judge selection and term of office: Chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by the British monarch; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

Subordinate courts: Magistrates' courts

English common law

Legislature name: National Assembly

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 16 (11 directly elected; 4 appointed)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 8/5/2022

Parties elected and seats per party: St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party (SKNLP) (6); Concerned Citizens' Movement (CCM) (3); Peoples Labour Party (PLP) (1); People's Action Movement (PAM) (1)

Percentage of women in chamber: 31.3%

Expected date of next election: October 2027

ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM
Nevis Reformation Party or NRP
People's Action Movement or PAM
People's Labour Party or PLP
Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP

18 years of age; universal

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis

Former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

Etymology: Explorer Christopher COLUMBUS visited the islands in 1493 and named one for his own patron saint; a common nickname for Christopher during the following centuries was Kit or Kitt, and Saint Kitts is still referred to as Saint Christopher; the name of Nevis is said to derive from the original Spanish name "Las Nieves" (The Snows) and refers to its cloud-topped mountain

Note: Nevis is pronounced NEE-vis

Chief of mission: Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023)

Chancery: 1203 19^th St. NW, 5^th Floor, Washington, DC 20036

Telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636

FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740

Email address and website:
Stkittsnevis@embskn.com

Embassy of St.Kitts and Nevis to the USA – and Permanent Mission to the OAS (embassydc.gov.kn)

Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Title: "O Land of Beauty!"

Lyrics/music: Kenrick Anderson GEORGES

History: Adopted 1983

Title: "God Save the King"

Lyrics/music: Unknown

History: In use since 1745

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

brown pelican, royal poinciana (flamboyant) tree

Citizenship by birth: Yes

Citizenship by descent only: Yes

Dual citizenship recognized: Yes

Residency requirement for naturalization: 14 years

Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

green, yellow, red, black, white

ships, measuring instruments, beer, electrical transformers, electrical control boards (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Malta 49%, USA 21%, Turkey 7%, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 5%, Guyana 3% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

coconuts, tropical fruits, root vegetables, vegetables, eggs, pulses, sweet potatoes, watermelons, cucumbers/gherkins, tomatoes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $262 million (2020 est.)

Expenditures: $281.889 million (2020 est.)

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

refined petroleum, ships, cars, jewelry, poultry (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
2.7 (2024 est.)
2.7 (2023 est.)
2.7 (2022 est.)
2.7 (2021 est.)
2.7 (2020 est.)

tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

high-income, tourism-based Caribbean OECS economy; better debt balancing; CARICOM and ECCU member; growing offshore financial and telecommunications hub; environmentally fragile; unique citizenship-driven growth model

$1.067 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

USA 50%, Italy 11%, China 8%, Japan 2%, UK 2% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
3.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$294.748 million (2024 est.)
$286.075 million (2023 est.)
$293.98 million (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

62.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

15% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$1.465 billion (2024 est.)
$1.448 billion (2023 est.)
$1.388 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

3.6% (2023 est.)
2.7% (2022 est.)
1.2% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$169.221 million (2024 est.)
-$122.386 million (2023 est.)
-$111.685 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$31,300 (2024 est.)
$31,000 (2023 est.)
$29,700 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$642.934 million (2024 est.)
$669.168 million (2023 est.)
$606.856 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$504.391 million (2024 est.)
$579.568 million (2023 est.)
$542.983 million (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

1.2% (2024 est.)
4.3% (2023 est.)
10.3% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-2.7% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 1.3% (2024 est.)

Industry: 21.1% (2024 est.)

Services: 65.5% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels: 95% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 2.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 72,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 182.455 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 39.522 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 76% (2022 est.)

.kn

national state-operated TV network that broadcasts on 2 channels; cable subscription available for local and international channels; national state-operated radio network; mix of state-owned and privately owned broadcasters with about 15 radio stations (2019)

Total subscriptions: 56,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2021 est.)

Total: 22,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions: 16,000 (2022 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2022 est.)

Total: 50 km (2008)

Narrow gauge: 50 km (2008) 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts for tourists

V4

2 (2025)

Total: 341 (2023)

By type: Bulk carrier 22, container ship 16, general cargo 85, oil tanker 59, other 159

1 (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (under 18 with written parental permission); no conscription (2025)

St. Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (SKNDF); Regular Force, Coast Guard Force (SKNDF Coast Guard), Reserve Force, Cadet Force

Ministry of National Security: the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (2025)

SKNDF's missions include protecting the country's territorial integrity, assisting the police in combating the illegal narcotic trade and other crimes, and providing humanitarian and disaster relief assistance; the force also has a regional role through the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS); St. Kitts joined the RSS in 1984; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

estimated 200 active Defense Forces (2024)

the SKNDF is lightly armed with equipment from Belgium, the UK, and the US (2025)

Refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

Total ports: 2 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 0

Very small: 2

Ports with oil terminals: 2

Key ports: Basseterre, Charlestown

the coat of arms of Saint Kitts and Nevis features a Carib who represents the original inhabitants of the islands, and a fleur-de-lis and rose that represent the French and English who arrived in the 1620; the shield also features the poinciana (the national flower) and a traditional boat; three hands hold the torch, which represents the quest for freedom: the hand of an African, a European, and a person of mixed ethnicity; pelicans (the national bird) support the shield, with a sugarcane plant and a coconut tree that symbolize the land